Photo Gallery: Western Slope Honor Flight: Oct. 2010, Day 2

Harley Eschliman, 6, sleeps in his father Dwight’s arms as the bus slowly rolls its way through rush hour traffic in Washington D.C., toward the National Mall. The two were part of a four-generation trip by the family to accompany World War II veteran Harley Eschliman, Dwight’s grandfather, on his Honor Flight trip.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Eager anticipation crosses Junior Cole’s face as the bus pulls up the the World War II Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

The 106 World War II veterans of the Western Slope Honor Flight salute the camera during a group portrait beneath the Colorado column at the World War II Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Participants in the Western Slope Honor Flight take a portrait next to a special reflecting pool at the World War II Memorial. The saying across the base reads, “Here We Mark the Price of Freedom.” Each star above the water in the pool represents the loss of 1,000 lives during the war. The stars and pool were a big draw to the Honor Flight veterans.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Images from Day 2 of the October 2010 Western Slope Honor Flight

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Holding his camera in his hand, Virgil Crabtree pauses for a moment to contemplate on the World War II Memorial and the Honor Flight trip. Crabtree is a survivor of the battle of Iwo Jima.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

With the Lincoln Memorial in the background, a Western Slope Honor Flight veteran and his daughter walk along the second tier of the World War II Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

A small group of Western Slope Honor Flight veterans take in the World War II Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Guardian Bob Tellschow peers over the shoulder of World War II Army veteran Jim Dunn as the two read a postcard given to Dunn by a schoolchild at the World War II Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Images from Day 2 of the October 2010 Western Slope Honor Flight

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

During their visit to Washington, D.C., the Western Slope honor Flight veterans and their guardians were divided among four chartered buses.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

A Western Slope Honor Flight veteran runs his fingers over the faces etched in the wall of the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

A woman runs her fingers along the name of Bruce Franz, a Fruita man who died in the Vietnam War.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

A Western Slope Honor Flight World War II veteran and his guardian pass in front of faces etched in the wall of the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

A Western Slope Honor Flight veteran smiles as he reads a postcard thanking him for his service. The card was given to him by a schoolchild at the World War II Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Images from Day 2 of the October 2010 Western Slope Honor Flight

Photo by Duffy Hayes

Navy veteran Bill Chinn of Grand Junction makes a rubbing of his nephew’s name on the wall of the Vietnam War Memorial to take back home to Colorado with him. Chinn’s nephew, Robert Weller, died in 1967.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Images from Day 2 of the October 2010 Western Slope Honor Flight

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Images from Day 2 of the October 2010 Western Slope Honor Flight

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Guardian Greg Martin reaches out to touch his best friend’s name on the wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

To the delight of the passengers, guardian Greg Assenmacher makes a huge show out of shaking the last few drops of coffee out of the pot after donning an apron and lei. At one point, Assenmacher announced, “I am NOT a stewardess—I am a FLIGHT ATTENDANT!” and the veterans and their guardians burst into laughter.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

A guardian and his veteran pause half way up the daunting 57 steps to the chamber containing Lincoln’s statue at the Lincoln Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Navy veteran Mac McPherson is dwarfed by his bag as his guardian pushes him to security at Baltimore Washington International for the flight home.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

A guardian and his veteran make their way to the Vietnam Memorial at the National Mall.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Jon Dyer and his father, Marine veteran Jim Dyer, read the names on the wall at the Vietnam War Memorial.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Images from Day 2 of the October 2010 Western Slope Honor Flight

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

The actual flight attendants of the Western Slope Honor Flight (in blue) pose for pictures by the veterans along with two volunteer attendants (who were actually guardians and are wearing yellow shirts): Todd Haynes, left, and Greg Assenmacher.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

A look of joy mixed with a myriad of other emotions crosses the face of veteran Lewis Johnson as he looks up while reading his letters during Mail Call. The Honor Flight trip was bittersweet for many of the veterans.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

World War II veteran Kenny Maxon of Parachute wipes tears from his eyes as his daughter Maxine brushes away her own tears as the two read hand-written letters to Kenny from his family during Mail Call. Family were encouraged to write the Honor Flight veterans, and those letters—along with letters thanking them from their service from congressmen to school children—were delivered to the vets as a surprise before landing.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Touched by the Mail Call letters he’s received, a veteran stares silently ahead as tears stream down his cheek.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

About an hour before the plane was scheduled to land back in Grand Junction, Kris Baugh, left, Duncan Brown, center, and Linda Smith jam into the small forward cabin to sort envelopes for Mail Call.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Guardian Todd Haynes of Montrose, left, chats for a few moments with each veteran as they disembark the plane.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

Capt. Dennis Robertson, left, and First Officer Brian Brackeen piloted the Western Slope Honor Flight U.S. Airways plane from Grand Junction to Baltimore and back, and each time they came out of the cockpit after landing to wish the veterans and their guardians well.

Photo by Gretel Daugherty

A World War II veteran replaces his hat after removing it as he walked past the American flag on his way into the Grand Junction Regional Airport terminal. An honor guard greeted the veterans at the terminal gate after the Honor Flight landed back in Grand Junction.